Traditional Teachings

1. Traditional Teachings Sacred Hoop Four Directions Seven Grandfathers Animal Totems

2. Purpose Participants will be able to: • Express key elements of the Sacred Hoop • Discuss teachings around the Four Directions • Name the Seven Grandfathers • Explain the tradition of Animal Totems

3. General American Culture Separation of church & state Religious customs & traditions apart from other aspects of life Traditional Native Culture Inter-relationship between everything Spiritual tradition & teachings integrated Way of life Religion & Spirituality

4. Native Traditions • Essence • Spirit • Help you to understand concepts and teachings • Do not generalize • Always explore & clarify

5. Sacred Hoop • Great Circle or Circle of Life • Affinity w/ nature • All life is Sacred & has purposes/teachings to share • Balance is a function of harmony • Spiritual/Practical • Everything shares life w/ human beings • Co-inhabitants Image by: Robert Lentz Bride Building Images

6. Four Directions N.A. teachings value 4 & 7 • Relationship: mind, body, spirit & emotion • Elements: earth, air, fire & water • Life: birth, puberty adulthood & old age • Gifts: hope, faith, love and charity • Receiving, giving, determining and holding • Harmony/balance: self, w/ others, communities & all of creation Image: Lakota Sweat Lodge Cards

7. EAST • New beginnings, awakenings, hope, new life • Creativity, illumination, discernment & clarity of communication • Meditation & brainstorming • Spring • Air • Eagle or Hawk Medicine • Yellow Image: Sacred Path Cards

8. SOUTH • Rapid growth • Exploring, experiencing & investigating • Sensation / physical body and work/career lessons • Fire/Heart: generosity & sensitivity • Power that guides growth • Living in harmony • Faith & emotion • Summer • Fire • Wolf Medicine • Red or White

9. WEST • Strength and introspection • Sunset & gentle endings • Cleansing & healing • Transform physical experiences into spiritual teachings • Dream work, prayer & vision quests • Claim power & determining appropriate use in the world • Maturity & understanding • Bear Medicine • Water • Blue or Black

10. NORTH • Renewal & quickening • Mystery: Sun never sits in the north • Stability, grounding & practicality • Winter • Mother Earth • Buffalo • Black or Red Image: Sacred Path Cards

11. Seven Grandfathers Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians

12. For Native People …a way to remember the teachings and medicine that have been gifted to Native Peoples by the Creator …

13. Love To know love is to know peace … • Care for one another • A way of life • Heart of all service to others • Honor relationships • Living at peace & in harmony Grandfather Sun is warmth and represents the love of the Great Spirit for all Sacred Path Cards

14. Respect To honor all of Creation is to have respect … • Honor traditions, family, others & ourselves • Caring for Creation • Value individual & community opinions • Listen & respond to each other’s needs • Work together • Open & honest environment

15. Bravery To face life with courage is to know bravery … • Self-determination through leadership • Stand up for convictions • Not the absence of fear – act responsibly in the face of fear • Courage in the face of adversity Image by: Fr. John B. Giuliani Building Bridges Images

16. Honesty To walk through life with integrity if to know honesty … • Principle for protecting self-determination • Know & be honest with ourselves • Accept & act on truth • Straightforward & appropriate communication • Personal responsibility to follow through on commitments • Demonstrated/valued in thought, word & deed

17. Humility To accept yourself, as a Sacred part of Creation is to know humility … • Balance throughout life • Put others above/before ourselves • Recognize limitations & ask for help (when needed) • Serve the needs of family, community, Tribe & Creation • Don’t take self so seriously (Clown Traditions) • Reverence for Mother Earth • Willingness to protect all of Creation

18. Truth To know truth of these things is to know truth … • Faithfully applying teachings • Trusting the Creator • Actions we are called take are clear and in keeping with these teachings Unity is established through focus of spirit, mind, and body, enabling the singers of these most powerful songs to sustain truth within the world.

19. Animal Totems Teachings & Medicine

20. Animal Totems or Spirit Guides • All aspects of this world are Sacred • Animals have specific medicine or teachings • Helpful in obtaining direction • Totems are “Spirit Guides” • Protection, counsel, advice & encouragement • Each has different qualities, teachings or medicine • Totems are influenced/specific to various Tribes